//------------------------------// // Monster // Story: Broadcasters // by HoneyQuill //------------------------------// There have been times in my life when I've wondered why I was given this job. Sometimes I've made lists of everypony who would be more qualified for this than I. It wouldn't be hard to find somepony happier to do it. Now is one of those times. My hooves hurt. I run through the crowd – which isn't easy, as everypony else is running in the opposite direction. I kick hard off the ground, as though each step will somehow send my flying off the face of Equestria and into some bizarre world where the leading species walk on two legs and spend hours on end seated before miraculous computing devices. But I digress. My target is the tower. Despite the screams of my friends and neighbours, and the strange figure looming into the square, I have a job to do. The height makes the tower the only place from which I can contact the Princess – if not for the monster that stands before it. My mouth falls open and I fight to hold back a scream of terror. The creature before me is almost as tall as the tower; and made of stone. It walks on two legs, a great heavy thing that, despite knowing little about magical creatures, seems far more formidable than a herd of rampaging minotaurs. It lumbers around, groaning and creaking in a way that sends my fur tingling. The awful sense of foreboding has gone – replaced with a very argumentative self. Even as I watch the lump of stone crush a marble statue, some part of me demands that I run away. My legs move of their own accord and I step back, out of the firing line as shards of marble rain down on the square. “I don't think you can do it.” Sundae's words run through my head and I shake it, determined to complete my work. So what if I'm terrified? So what if there's a monster? A huge, violent, angry-looking monster? A squeak escapes my lips. “Oh... buck it!” And suddenly I'm running, right at the tower. It doesn't seem to notice as I weave between its legs; it's far too intent on causing as much destruction as possible. The steps up to the balcony are broken, several snapped away by the flying debris. I stumble, catch myself, and proceed as quickly as I can without falling to my death. At this point, somepony could be forgiven for thinking how brave I am, or how well I'm dealing with the situation. But as I pull to a stop at the balcony edge and light my horn, it wavers with my shaking. I stamp the ground, trying to stop the shivering. It helps a little and my horn ignites. The connection with Princess Celestia is not something I've ever gotten used to. It's okay to know that she sees into my mind – there's very little there that's of any interest to such an amazing being. However, her mind is something else. Simply receiving a broadcast is one thing, but contacting her leaves me breathless. There's such a barrage of magic from a clearly celestial being that it instantly drains my energy and leaves me cowering. Even in my current state of terror, I fear seeing through her sad eyes and sensing all the agony and guilt behind her gentle smile. Still, this is for the good of everypony. I close my eyes and open the connection. I'm in the throne room, watching slender white hooves pace up and down. There's a general sense of worry; but it's not my own. The Princess lifts her head – I feel her horn ignite as she allows contact. “Indigo? What's the matter?” When I speak, my voice is panicked and breathless. “Princess! There's an attack in Trottingham!” “Stay calm. I'm sending the Elements to help you right now.” “Thank you, Princess.” “In the meantime, continue to broadcast. Speak out to everypony. Tell them of the attack and to avoid that location. Assure them that help is coming.” “Yes, Princess.” The connection breaks and I fall to my knees, exhausted. Upon opening my eyes I notice that the thing has gotten closer – far too close for comfort. Still, this perch is the best place to be if I'm to contact everypony. I try my hardest to ignore the rampant destruction occurring below me, but the way that the tower shakes makes it difficult. I close my eyes. The screams continue, but they're quieter than before. Once somepony goes into the narrow streets here all sound is lost, so it's likely nopony else knows about the attack. My magic spreads out in waves, touching all of Trottingham to the very edges as I magnify my own voice as loud as I can. “Everypony please. Um, remain calm.” I feel a muscle in my face twitch. I'm not good with words at the best of times, but this is awful. “There is an attack occurring in Town Square. Please get as far as you can from the centre of the city.” I repeat the order a few more times, trying to ensure that everypony hears. “I've contacted the Princess. She's sending the Elements of Harmony to our aid. We'll all be okay, everypony.” The broadcast ends with a dull clicking noise. I've always hated the sound of my own voice, but I suppose that in situations like this, I can't be picky. The screaming has stopped. I can, however, hear the thundering of hooves as everypony flees the city. A fresh sense of dread washes over me as I realise that, in order to continue broadcasting, I need to remain on the balcony. Still, I should come away from the edge. I turn, take one step forward - And fall into oblivion.